The Kirkus Prize is one of the richest literary awards in the world, with a prize of $50,000 bestowed annually to authors of fiction, nonfiction and young readers’ literature. It was created to celebrate the 81 years of discerning, thoughtful criticism Kirkus Reviews has contributed to both the publishing industry and readers at large. Books that earned the Kirkus Star with publication dates between November 1, 2014, and October 31, 2015, are automatically nominated for the 2015 Kirkus Prize, and the winners will be selected on October 23, 2015, by an esteemed panel composed of nationally respected writers and highly regarded booksellers, librarians and Kirkus critics.

KIRKUS REVIEW

Maya has always been a good girl. She gets good grades; she works hard in her family’s Thai restaurant; she never hangs out with boys; she’s focused. That all changes when her parents leave her and her brother in charge of the restaurant for a few days when they go out of town. A surprise health inspection earns the restaurant a huge fine and it’s all Maya’s fault. Desperate to earn enough money to pay it off, she agrees to trade her smarts for cash. She ends up collaborating with the very irritating—and unfortunately very cute—Camden King. Together they devise a way to bring together Maya’s friends’ brains and Camden’s friends’ wallets. While the plot is occasionally predictable, the hip dialogue and fast pace keep the story on track. Light, fun and at times laugh-out-loud funny. (Fiction. YA)

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